Improvement in permutation-locks



N. PETERS. PHOTO LTHOGRAPHER WASHINGTON D C datiert @iStats-e prima anni.

JonN P. sonnuoknn, or AsHLANuoHIo, Assieme 'ro nuisent nur I J. D. WILLIS, or sans Pinon.

Letters Patent Nd. 98,523, dated January 4, 18.7 0. L

IMPROVEMENT IN PERMUTATJIONLOCKS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and makingV of the same.

To all whom it may concernl ing a part of this specification, in which- Figure l, plate 1, is a perspective view of the lock. Figure 2, a view ofthe inside.

Figures 3, 4, and (i, are .detached sections.

Figure 5 is a vertical section. Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the l dierent views presented.

This invent-ion relates to a combination safety-lock, to be applied to safes and vaults; and

It consists ot' a combination -of'devices, whereby the lock is set for or changed to any desired number or combination, as maybe desired, for successfully operating the lock.

A' represents the case of the lock, of which B is the knob, and C, the holt.

D D', lig. 3, is a system of four wheels or disks, having a regular series of teeth or notches, a, cut in their periphery.

The two disks D have their teeth all pointing in the same direction, but reversely to those ot the disks D', the purpose of,which will be presently shown.

Theniunber of teeth in each wheel is about forty, which, however-,'may be more or less, if so desired.

In each diskis'cut a deep radial notch, E, figli; also, in each disk is a central hole, F, in which the shaftor stem G ofthe knob or handle is received, as shown in tig. 5. In the sides of said hole are t'orlned notches or shoulders, l), in which `the point of the catch or lug H engages, for the purpose of turning the wheel, as willhereinat'ter be shown.

I is a, spring, whereby said lug is forced from the shaft into engagement wit-h the shoulders b, on being presented in proper relation to said shoulders.

Each wheel is provided with a pawl, J, tig. 2, whereby said wheels are prevented from bei-ngturned backward.

K are springs, by means of which said pawls are kept in engagement with the wheels. i

L is a supplementary wheel, placed onthe shaft G, and lies close, or upon the first toot-hed wheel D, and operated by said shaft, for the purpose ot' throwing the bolt C, to which it is connected by the link M.

N is a spring, whereby said bolt is thrown out, for locking the door. -1 y The practical operation of this lock is as follows:

The lock, as represented in liu. 2, is suon as when the door of the safe is locked.

l Now, in order to withdraw the bolt, or unlock the safe, the shaft or spindle Gr is pushed in until the lug. H springs into the shoulders b ot' the first wheel or disk 1) referred to, and as shown in iig. 5. This Iodgelnent of the lug in the shoulder is known by the click, occasioned by a spring, indicated by the dotted line .0, iig. 2, as it falls into either of the grooves indicated by the dotted lines c, cut in thecircumference ofthe spindle, said grooves corresponding in number to the number of wheels.

The spring referred to is located on one side, and

as the spindle is pushed in or pulled out, falls into a groove, and is thereby yheld while turning the wheel, in order to bring the radial slot E around, in direct re lation to the inner end O, tig. 3, of the bolt, which is of such a size and shape as to lit therein. l

In order to determine how far to turn the wheel, so as to bring the slot in position for the reception ot the bolt, the wheel is turned a. certain known number of notches, counting from the end of the guard P, a simila guard being provided for each wheel. or shield P is .constructed of thin sheet-metal, andof the proper shape to-slide on the periphery and face lot' the. toothed wheel or wheels, and has projectingpins 011 its inner side, or the side next the fac-e of the toothed wheel, so that, when it is desired to make or change a combination in the'series of toothed wheels, the guard P is moved around to the desired position, when the projecting pins will enter into the holes in the face ot' the-wheel, and bc firmly held in the desired place; then, by turning the wheels, as hereafter described, the correct position poi" cach wheel in the series of wheels will he obtained, for allowing the bolt to be thrown back.

Thus, it being resolved that 22 be the number of the combination ofnotchcs or teeth, front the slot, the guard or shield is ,then adjusted to that numberdistant from the slot, as shown in tig. 2. Now, on turning thewheel in the direction ot' the arrow, the paul -J will click as it passes over each successive tooth, until it reaches the guard or shield, over whichV it slides without noise, until it falls into the first tooth click, as the wheel is continued to be turned, until the twenty-second, which will' be that nearest the slot; said slot will then be in direc-t relation with the end O of the bolt. This being done, the spindle is so far withdrawn that the lug will engagein the second wheel 1).' This wheel, having its shield adjusted at tooth 22, as that above described, is turned in like manuel', but in the contrary direction, counting `from the shield twenty-two clicks, which ,will bring the `slot in the same position to the bolt as that inthe partially across the hole inthe 'side of the case, which,

This guard with ar click, 1, from which, counting each successive first wheel. `This being done, the spindle is again` drawn out, until the lug engages in the shoulder of the third wheel D', as it engaged with the first two; the exact distance to dra-w the spindle is known by the click occasioned bythe spring c falling into the third groove on the spindle.`

This third wheel is turned, as were the others, but

. in the direction ofthe first, as indicated by the arrow,

the shield on this wheel being adjusted as were the others at No. 22. The counting of the clicks conmences at the same point,innnediately after the interval occasioned by the pawl sliding over the shield, counting the first click, and so on tothe twenty-second, which will bring the slot in this wheel in open rela-tion to the slots in the wheels above. i

Again, the spindle is drawn out, bringing the lug into the shoulder ofthe last or fourth wheel, on which the shield has been adjusted, as were the others, the wheel is turned `in the same direction as the second one D, until the slot comes in range with that in the other wheels.

All the slots, on being thus arranged for the admis sion of thebolt, it is forced back therein, by pushing the spindle in until the lug is in range with the supplementary wheel L, where it becomes engaged in one of the notches H, iigt 2. Now, on giving a turn to the spindle, the wheel will turn, thereby drawing back the bolt, by means of the link M, which heilig done,

the door is free to be opened. The bolt is again thrown out, as shown in the drawing, by the spring N, above referred to.

It will be obvious that any number of changes in the combination of the wheels can be made by simply shifting the position of the guard, so that one or more teeth or numbers will range between the slot .and The numbers may be alike in each wheel, as inthe illustration, or each may have a dilerent number, or two or more wheels have the same number, and the fourth a different one, &c.

Itr will be apparent that these changes are susceptible of great variation, at the will of those having charge of the lock; hence the combination can be made all the more difficult to those not knowing the exact numbers, thereby making the lock of greater security.

What I claim as my improvement, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Themovable guard P, in combination with the toothed wheel or wheels, having slot E, when constructed to operate in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

- JOHN P. SGHMUGKER.

Witnesses:

W. H. BURRIDGE, FRANK S. ALBEN. 

